The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-27
October the Banner Business Month
in Local History.
Immense Increase in Transporta-
ton Percentages.
The Commerce of the City Amplified
by the New Railroads.
Reports from All Lines Calculated to
Make Everybody Feel that Men,
phis Has Come into
Her Own.

The present business season openedwith
every indication Of being the best and
most extensive in the history of the city.
New avenues for the induction Of the
products from territory heretofore foreign
to Memphis had been opened, and old
ones improved and extended since the
close of the last trade year, and, with such
inlcts and outlets as no other city in the
south enjoyed, il was fair to presume that
the expectations Of the most enthusiastic
would be realized. With view to
ascertaining how the volume Of trade
for the initial months of the season
was sustaining the buoyant anticipations
90 sanguinely entertained, and il an inyid-
ious comparison could be made between
them and the corresponding terms last
year, an APPEAL reporter, meeting several
gentlemen yesterday who occupy positions
in their respective lines which enable
them TO speak with knowledge in regard
TO them, courteously replied TO his inter
rogatories as follows.
Mr.. Henry Hotter, secretary OF the Cot
ton exchange, was asked "What is the
volume of business this year Ms compared
with last?'
"we have received to date 1903, 574 bales,
while for the same time last year we had
only 1913, 1888 bales, making an increase OF
1886; excellent showing, isn't it?''
what is the increased money value Of
this2'
"The calculation is easily made. So far
this year the value is SS, $50, while
last year il was S., ,76s, AGO, showing an in
crease of g, ,942, $40"
October Of this year could buy last Octo-
Der and have several million dollars TO
spare, according 10 the bank cleaances
furnished by Mr.. James Nathan, cashier
Of the Manhattan savings and trust COM
pany. Said he:
$50 far this month the clearance shows
$1,000, 600, as against 7,S92, 600 for the
same time last year. The present month
overtops last month by g, ,5sl, 900. Yes,
sir, the volume Of money is growing daily,
and is the sure sign that business is grow
ing with II"
The amount Of express business done in
q city Is also reliable indicator 10
the volume Of trade which comes,
passes through, asd goes out Of II. Said
Mr.. W. j. Brown, manager of the Pacific
tkINtNn ll W lttt UN'r-
tiOn whether the business Of his company
had increased here or not over last year
at IL impossible 90 give YOU an accurate
comparison, from the fact that our com
pany did not commence 10 operate on the
Louisville, New Orleans 4 Texas railroad
until in February last, but can safely say
that our business has increased at least 200
per cent. over what we did last year"
Being in the office at the time, the re-
porter saw several Of the employees loading
what appeared 10 him 30 he a heavy lump
Of lead, into wagon standing at the door,
Z and, asking what IL was, MIR. Brown said:
THAT II what We all toll for-thosc are
silver bricks. There are twenty-thrcc Of
them, and each one contains from $500 10
1000. They came from Omaha, and are
on their way 10 the mint at New Orleans 10
be nodded into good round dollars. The
silver brick packages are little short to-
day, MS We generally handle from IS 10 100
OF them daily"
"IIow much has the business Of the
Southern express company increased this
year over that Of last ycar2" was asked Mr.
L. II. Albright, the local agent
at would he impossible for me 30 give
you figures" replied tina, gentleman, "ior
our iOOiIngs up Of the business done is
always necessarily from two 30 three
months behind, ON account Of having ~
many division offices. but from the un-
preccdentcd number Of packages handled
II is safe 20 say that our business has vastly
increased over that Of last year"
Necessarily the foregoing evidences Of
the enormous increase Of business beans
with Il the fact that the frcightage and ton
mage has increased in like ratio. Said Mr..
Y. vandcnbcrg, division freight agent Of
the Louisville x Nashville road:
There has been an Increase Of % As
per cent. with us In earnings since Jan
uary I, as compared with the same time last
year The rates during the season have
been very nearly the same NJ last year, ex-
ccpt m 20 cotton rates 10 eastern points aud
for export via eastern points, which are
10 cents per bale less than they were last
year We have kept no account Of the In.
crease in tonnage, but since there IN an in.
crease In earnings, with no advance Of
rates, there necessarily must be an in.
crease Of tonnage IN proportion"
Mr.. King, ot the Kansas City 4 Br.
mingham freight Office, said: "Our road
has increased In length 10 much during
this year that II would be impossible q
make comparative statement Of ono
montn WIN hnouleIi lpI uuIlnR ehci
month Il has heightened itself into new
territory. But the business Of the road
even through the section II traycrscd las
year, has increased most satisfactorily"
Mr.. Davant, the agent Of the Memphis
A Charleston road, is absent from the city
and chat with him WIS impossible; bu
Il IL easy 10 presume that that live cor
poration has Kept apacc with It's compcu
tors.
Said the agent Of the Louisville, New
Orleans 4 Texas, In answer 10 like qucs
ton: III have not the accurate data a
hand, but can safely state that our trad
for the month oi October has increased n
per cent, II not more, over the same tint
last year"
u.taiI Merchants Associations.